NHI a frontal attack on the only functional health system

The article “Health fix needed before NHI plan” (July 22) refers.

While the Department of Basic Education is squandering its time and resources, and the next generation of South Africans still leave schools with pit toilets and mud classrooms, and ill-equipped for life, the Department of Health is effectively planning another national disaster.

It is unable to provide a functional public health system and address systemic errors, and National Health Insurance looks more like a frontal attack on the functional private health system (and the pot of gold in health savings) than a genuine and carefully planned programme to benefit all.

Whatever the outcome, this may well be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Pierre Jordaan, on Businesslive

I was reading a couple of days ago about potential medical negligence claims, and the Western Cape was only a fraction compared to the other provinces. This is due primarily to good governance by the hospitals and clinics and, above all, the provincial administration.

The primary problem comes from corruption, bad governance, tenderpreneurs and the incompatibility of cadre-led appointments with competent and ethical management.

Geoff Coles, on Businesslive

Ain’t gonna happen . . . Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s attitude is the standard one reigning in all spheres of ANC government, and particularly in health: “I made the Plan. The Plan is perfect. It is not my job to finance it, therefore I won’t be held responsible if it does not work.”

JV SL, on Businesslive